Lucha libre and professional wrestling comes to Milpitas to benefit schools.

Leticia Villa-Gascon, principal of Rancho Middle School, played a large part in bringing the wrestling ensemble of Pro Wrestling Revolution to Milpitas.

Principal Villa-Gascon knew someone who worked with Pro Wrestling Revolution, and they started putting it all together to benefit the schools in Milpitas like Revolution has helped schools in San Francisco and Santa Maria.

Villa-Gascon said that wrestling, particularly lucha libre, is "something very cultural" to those in the Latino community.

Growing up, Villa-Gascon's family watched lucha libre at the San Jose convention center and also watched the more American WWF and Hulk Hogan.

"American wrestling versus the lucha style, it's a little different, but it's still very entertaining" she said.

Lucha libre has masked wrestlers and is usually more comedic, versus the more destructive WWF style.

Villa-Gascon has actually had the opportunity to bring wrestlers to Rancho. They put on a workshop, with masks and other goodies, promoting the value of education.

"We know that this is something that will really benefit the Latino community and bring the rest of Milpitas' community together at the same time, along with some of our sister cities, San Jose and Fremont" Villa-Gascon said.

The proceeds from this wrestling fundraiser come back to Rancho and some of the other schools in Milpitas.

"We're probably going to see more (budget) cuts in athletics, and that's where we want to put most of the proceeds towards, is the athletics department. Because we've already had to cut sports like softball and wrestling out of our sports" said Villa-Gascon. They are assuming more cuts next year. They may lose soccer or basketball.

The funds are going back to the schools that helped participate and fundraise: Rancho, Milpitas High School, Randall, Rose and Weller. Rancho will use funds specifically their athletics department. Milpitas High School has money going towards their athletics boosters and Black Student Association. The elementary schools that are participating will most likely receive funds for youth intervention.

Some of the other schools, like Milpitas High School and the elementary schools, are putting more of their funds towards some of the at-risk and after-school programs that they have, along with their clubs, supporting their club programs on campus.

"With schools facing all these cuts we need all of the support we can have, and the more people we have out there supporting events like this and fundraising events, the better it is for schools" Villa-Gascon said.